Post by Horyo on Jul 20, 2008 23:16:35 GMT -5

After a period of rebuilding and counting losses, the Northern Water Tribe was back to its former Glory. The frozen Gondolas, and river ways were reconstructed and the crystal buildings were cleaned off. No more black soot overtook the marvelous structures. The marble grounds were sparkling again, gleaming as the dim sun shone.

The world's first victory in a long time was not met with celebration, only hard work and mourning. Mourning for the loss princess, mourning for the broken families and dead friends, mourning for a brutal strike.

Horyo had already told his parents of his plans to leave the North and help rebuild the South. Grudgingly, his father approved and with a hand on his shoulder, blessed him luck.

His mother prepared him the materials and instruments he would need.

With one look back, he left his ice hut and headed towards the ships.

...

The Avatar flew off in the magnificent beast with his friends. Horyo began to push and pull the water back to propel the ship forward. His arms moved as he felt the fluid shifts of the water. Along with other benders, the ship gently rode the waves.

"Hey, it's my turn now." Another water tribes person spoke, and Horyo nodded before grabbing a towel and wiping his head. He was about to sit on deck and enjoy the sights a little. The sun bothered his skin, as the North was shielded from this much exposure.

He took out his water-skin, and emptied the water. Stale water makes a stale waterbender, his mother always joked.

He then began reading his scrolls, seeing the rough paper better from the amount of light outside. He looked at the first technique and began to twist and turn his arms, hoping to produce water. Failure, he met, as the only trace of water he got was a damp tickling feeling on his arms -- sweat.

"What a waste of a move, who needs to conjure water from the air anyways." He whined. Actually the air here was plentiful with water, but he couldn't stand his inexperience. He put away his scrolls before lying to nap.

Post by godhunter on Jul 21, 2008 0:01:56 GMT -5

The last few weeks had all seemed to blur together for the young man, and it seemed like this was his first real break since the start of this whole mess that the avatar had brought with him. Ever since that first war meeting with the Chief it seemed like everything had rushed past at breakneck speed. First the ash, then the plans, then the attacks, the slight break at moonrise, and the attacks once more. The things that he saw that day Kizu knew would haunt him for the rest of his life. Flame everywhere, friends falling at his side and the feeling of the water he controlled crashing through the enemy lines. And of course the feeling of all of that control disappearing. The absolute weakness that rushed through him as the moon spirit died. The moment that happened he had thought everything was over, and the weight of that single thought almost crushed him. But soon after he moon returned to the sky, and the ocean spirit had come to the aid of its people, though he didn't doubt that the avatar would gain credit for that victory.

Even after that battle had finished though, it wasn't the end of the toil, of the sadness. Yue had died, no thanks to the avatar and his friends, and now they had to rebuild everything. It took weeks but finally the canals had been restructured and the soot wiped clean. From an outsiders point of view everything looked as good or better than it had before the attack, but Kizu knew better. There was loss in the faces of everyone there, and the hustle and bustle of the city wouldn't be nearly what it was before. The city may have only taken a few weeks to repair, but it would take much, much longer for the citizens to repair that gash that had been left on their hearts.

Then after the city had been repaired it still wasn't enough. Next came the packing, with the knowledge that he may never see his home again. That was perhaps the hardest part about the voyage that lay ahead. He knew that he would be needed, after all someone of his skill and relative young age would be a major asset to their southern sister colony, but he loved his life here. He had a family, friends, a couple girls he liked, though they had turned him down on more than one occasion. This was for his people though, and for them he would gladly travel to other ends of the globe.

Now after all that had happened, he had finally given been given a break after pushing off shore with the assistance of another group of benders. They were past the bigest ice blocks now and the city walls were long out of sight. With a relieved sigh Kizu collapsed to the floor of the deck and drank slowly out of the waterskin that had been given to him before wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his parka and looking around the deck.

It didn't take his eyes long to fall upon a crew mate who had pulled out a scroll. He watched for a second as the man, who had to have been within a few years of Kizu himself made some feeble attempts at bending. For a moment Kizu couldn't even figure out what he was attempting, and held out hope that it was something he hadn't learned yet. When he finally managed a good glimpse at what he was doing Kizu sighed a bit. It wasn't like it was a simple bending, but Kizu had learned that a year or so ago, and was a bit disheartened at his oppotunity to expand his bending. A realization dawned upon his face as he realized who held he scroll then. If memory served that man was Horyo, a man a scant year older than Kizu himself and while not the best bender the pair had shared drinks on a few occations.

A playful smile dawned over the twenty seven year old's features as he stood up and quickly stretched. Just as Horyo had put away the scroll and laid down to rest Kizu got to him. The younger man leaned down to his elder's ear and said, in a much too loud voice, "If you need help, I think I can give a few pointers!"

Post by Horyo on Jul 21, 2008 1:22:29 GMT -5

Horyo jumped at the suggestion; not from excitement, but from fear did he wildly look around in panic. After days of warfare, peace was hard to recover even in a few weeks time. He saw Kizu and blushed at his overreaction.

"I should tell you that I'm not really of 28 years, my parents consider it because my mother felt the onset of a child 2 years before my birth." He smiled and put up his hands, "Well I'm not that terrible at bending, I'm starting to learn more advanced moves...., but it wouldn't hurt if you helped." He added slyly, trying to keep his pride from descending.

"I'm trying to learn how to conjure water from air," Horyo focused himself and whirled his wrist around. His expression hardened into a serious focus. Moving slightly he tripped and fell unto the ground, groaning as the wooden planks slapped his face.

Post by godhunter on Jul 21, 2008 11:02:59 GMT -5

As his friend jumped up looked around in a mad panic Kizu drew himself up to his full height of six feet and took a step back just in case he attacked before remembering just where he was and what was going on. Deep down Kizu knew that was probably a cruel joke due to the circumstances as of late. It hasn't been long since they'd gotten a chance to rest, and it was going to be a while longer still before everyone settled back down into what most would call a 'normal' routine. The blush on Horyo's face however put the man's worries at ease. At least he took it in good humor.

Words of how Horyo wasn't really twenty eight and how his parents had felt him coming didn't make a lick of sense to Kizu so he simply pressed his lips together to keep from laughing and nodded like he knew what was going on. As the conversation turned back toward bending Kizu unsealed his lips and flashed his friend an innocent smile while he stood up and attempted to conjure water from the air. For a moment his form looked about right, then he went tumbling to the hard surface of the deck. Kizu simply raised his eyebrows and offered Horyo a hand up.

"You know, if you think of it as 'conjuring water from the air' you'll never get it right," he said in the voice of a teacher gently guiding a pupil who just doesn't fully grasp the lesson being taught. "Water doesn't simply appear like magic," he told Horyo as he took back his hand and took up a bending stance. "Bending isn't magic, and none of it can be started where the element is lacking. For this particular form the key is to understand that the water is already in the air around you. You aren't creating it there nor is it going to appear there because you want it."

His face darkened into a serious expression and he moved his hand through the air, willing the water particles to come together and form into a form he could better control. It took a moment, but the water began to bubble around Kizu's fingertips and then into a stream about a foot long. This wasn't an easy technique for anyone under the master level, and while Kizu had learned and practiced it, it wasn't as fluid as when Master Pakku had shown him a year ago. Kizu allowed a small smile of satisfaction to grace his features before he flung the water up into the air and then down into the sea as an icicle.

"Like I was saying. The water is there for us to use, it is simply a matter of imagination and willpower. You know that the water exists there, but unless you can visualize the water splitting from the air and forming into something you can use, the technique is worthless." With that said Kizu walked over to the side of the ship and leaned against the railing. "Think about it, then try it out. I doubt you'll be able to get anything useable in any decent amount of time, but with the proper mindset and good technique, which you're already close to, you should be able to at least sense some results."

Post by Horyo on Jul 21, 2008 11:37:33 GMT -5

Into his nose came a deep flowing of salty air, and out his mouth a steady breath. He listened carefully, although with some disdain, to Kizu's instructions. Horyo always disliked being "behind" someone like Kizu, and became annoyed with his air of skill. However, he could not allow his emotions to cloud his mind, especially when he wished to waterbend well. He took in several deep salty breaths of air and contemplated his actions, forming the water, seeing the separated tiny droplets combine into a long fluid mass.

Horyo concentrated on sensing the water. He felt the moisture of the air and every cool breeze that lapped at his face. He closed his eyes and began to feel the presence of a million blobs of water around him, invisible, but ever present. The sensation felt serene and peaceful, as if he watched the snow from his Tribe suspended in the air, frozen in time. Of course the blobs did move with every wind and they changed direction or merged into larger, but still invisible, blobs.

He moved his hands, this time slower than last, and circled them around, making a motion that would whirl and collect water like a whirlpool would. He twirled his arms, and twisted his wrists to draw in as much of it he could sense. He could feel some drops were resisting, or not obeying his will. Horyo strained harder but realized that his shift in action could rupture the water that was under his control. Taking a breath he relaxed and regained proper manipulation, and realized that the water wasn't going to "gather" at one spot. He moved the water he had collected, about a small ounce, around to reach the resisting water particles. The ounce of water absorbed water and grew as it went around.

Horyo, feeling the effects his stamina, struggled a bit more before releasing the water. The water spilled onto the ground, not as copious a supply as Kizu's, but he felt that he brought at least a few cups of water. Horyo tilted back and landed on his tush, easing his tightened mind.

Post by godhunter on Jul 21, 2008 12:30:02 GMT -5

Despite his words of encouragement and his seeming faith in his drinking buddy it was still a bit of a shock to Kizu to see that Horyo had managed to gather that much bendable water on his first try. But this wasn't his first try Kizu reminded himself. To gain technique that precise he had to have practiced a whole lot. In all honesty Horyo most likely would have figured out the technique within the next few days, even so it was shocking to see the direct effect of his words. Who knew that Kizu was such a good teacher.

The collapse of Horyo could have been foreseen, after all new techniques tend to take a lot out of a bender. Kizu pushed off of the railing and walked over to plop down next to his fellow crew mate. Clasping Horyo on the shoulder Kizu sent him a kind smile, "Easy now right?" he asked with laughter in his voice. It had been so long since he'd had the opportunity to just laze around and practice. He'd forgotten how nice it could feel. For a moment he was lost in his own thoughts and then he kicked his feet out in front of him, put his hands behind his head and laid down on the deck to look up at the morning sun and clouds that floated easily overhead. A flash of the ash falling from this same sky stuck Kizu and he almost jumped up before he realized that it'd been all in his head.

A sigh escaped the man's lips as he stared up into the light blue heavens. "It's gonna be a while before we come back here, isn't it Horyo?" he asked in a soft voice without even looking to see if the man was paying attention to him. With things finally calmed down a bit the realization finally hit him. The decision had been so easy at the time, in the heat of things, with the recent battle weighing so heavy on his mind and the want to escape the terror that were his memories. "Everything is going to change now," he said more to himself than any particular person.

Post by Horyo on Jul 21, 2008 12:52:06 GMT -5

Horyo still struggled to regain a bit more control of himself. Who knew straining was that bad? He yawned a bit after recovering and gazed to the approaching Kizu. It felt nice to rest, but he did wonder, where was Master Pakku and the other Master Waterbenders?

Horyo looked up at the chilling sky, realizing that the clouds began to blanket the sun. Feeling relief from the unbearable heat, Horyo sat up and heard Kizu talk about their fates. Horyo remained quiet for a while and exhaled, he opened his mouth to speak but shut it again. Finally the only resolute answer he could come up with was, "I don't know. Destiny will show us, and time will tell. For now all we can do is survive to see what happens next." He then wondered about the South. He heard about the ravaged south and thought that it might appear like the North.

"I wonder if the girls in the South are pretty." Horyo grinned. He never found that waterbender girl with the Avatar very attractive, though he admired her skills. Horyo began to think for a bit, "You know, I never saw the Earth Kingdom or their brown land. I wonder what it's like, what it feels like." He couldn't possibly imagine the texture of earth, only comparing it to hardened snow or mashed ice. Horyo then continued, "Aren't we gonna stop at the Earth Kingdom soon? I mean, we need to resupply our food right?" His stomach gave a small growl as Lunchtime approached.

Post by godhunter on Jul 21, 2008 14:49:01 GMT -5

A frigid northern sea wind swept up and across the bow of the ship and over the form of Kizu stretched out, making him pull his hood a little higher up over his head. Horyo's words sounded good. "Destiny and time," he said with a shrug as he sat up. "That sounds pretty nice. After all, I think we've become pretty good at surviving recently." The last words were said with more than a hint of pain and regret. Those wounds were still fresh, but they would never healed if they were ignored. It dawned on Kizu at that moment that the pain that he felt is what the world had been feeling for the past hundred years. The world was hurting and morning for all its loss, and it was all that kid's fault. That child avatar had abandon the world and turned it into this sad place. Kizu would take his help, but he would never forgive him for what he did to the world.

"I wonder if the girls in the South are pretty." No matter how deep in his own self pity Kizu couldn't help but laugh at that comment. It was a great big rolling laugh that echoed from his chest and had him back on his back in a moment. When he finally got himself under control he smiled over at Horyo. "I imagine the girls are like the girls back home, only less refined. After all, you saw that arrogant girl with the avatar. I'm just hoping that not all the southern girls are that headstrong, otherwise we might be in trouble." Kizu used that as an excuse to get up and stretch off the stiff of the cold.

Judging by the relatively small ice blocks that now floated around them they'd be hoisting the sails soon, and after that would be some food and then probably random chores until dinner. Horyo's new inquiry brought a dreamy smile to Kizu's lips. "Have you ever been to the sacred pool?" he asked Horyo. "I was there once with Pakku for a meditation session, and I'd suspect that the earth kingdom is alot like that place. Its hard, but more like packed snow than ice, and its itchy. I laid down in the green grass for a moment and I was itching my arms for the rest of the day." Kizu took a moment to reminisce to himself. "I guess thats a pretty poor description, and I'm not even sure if the Earth Kingdom is like that. I think you're right though. I heard Master Pakku mention that we'd be arriving at an Earth Kingdom town around the second day, to check our bearing and make sure we had enough supplies to last us a while." The waterbender chuckled at Horyo's stomach. "I think we've got one more shift of driving the boat, and then the rigging of the sails before we can get some food to eat my friend."

Post by Horyo on Jul 21, 2008 15:35:12 GMT -5

Horyo chuckled in response to Kizu's rumbling laughter. He looked up to the sky, still laughing and saw that the clouds had completely engulfed the infinite space. Grey clouds, pattered with dark spots and white fluff. It was so beautiful to him, so eerie and mysterious, as if secretly hiding its dark surprises. Horyo then returned to speak to Kizu, "Yea that girl was weird, with the whole learning how to fight. Then again, wasn't she pretty strong? I heard she was one of Pakku's fastest students. And if all girls in the South are that strong, well, I'd have a hard time putting up with it." Horyo chuckled, his comment was forged from the years of tradition which his culture placed on him. It froze and stuck to him, hardened like the icy walls of the North.

Horyo groaned at having to push the ship before lunch. "Aww, but I'm hungry." He whined and folded his arms before accepting it. "I guess it would be good Waterbending practice..."

"So Kizu, did you leave anyone special behind?" Horyo smirked and looked over to his friend, curious to discover any romances he had not known about. It would not have been surprising: Kizu had the appearance and skill to attract almost any girl in the North. Most of the girls seemed to swoon as he walked by, and Horyo would always chuckle to see the crazy ones fall in the water just trying to get to him.

Post by godhunter on Jul 21, 2008 15:58:17 GMT -5

"Did you leave anyone special behind?" The words echoed in Kizu's head for a moment, ringing against old scars and causing him to subconciously raise his eyes to the stars. How long had it been since they'd been seperated? How many years had he been without her? How many times can he remember grabbing the booze to drown her from his thoughts only to bury himself deeper in the pain? He shook his head. It had been long enough that he'd been able to move on. Eleven years was long enough that those who didn't know him to not even make the connection anymore. She was gone, and he was now searching for a new love, and had been for a while now. "No one special for me to leave behind," he told Horyo with a hint of well hidden pain and sadness in his voice. She left me behind long ago he thought to himself.

Banishing the sad thoughts Kizu turned and wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulder. "I'm a shockingly hard person to get close to, or so I've been told." Flashing a fierce grin he started to guide Horyo back to the rear of the ship just as a bell sounded to switch groups. "How about you? I can't imagine such an eligible bachelor such as yourself wouldn't have broken a heart or two with the news of his leaving." In all honesty Kizu had no idea about the love life of Horyo, or of most people for that matter. When he said that he's hard to get close to he meant it. Ever since he'd been left alone at the brittle age of sixteen he'd had a hard time opening up to other women, and the few times he did they didn't last long enough for him to gain any confidence in himself.

Post by Horyo on Jul 21, 2008 17:57:30 GMT -5

Horyo stared blankly at Kizu, he blinked from confusion at his mumbling. When the time came for his shift again night was dawning on them. It felt strange to have the night come so quickly, and Horyo shrugged it off as his lack of attention.

Kizu asked him about his love life and Horyo nearly laughed, "Well I've had a few crushes but nothing serious. I don't want to fall behind in waterbending or warrior training so I kept myself busy. "Although I did like this one girl a lot. When I was about 14 or 15 (16/17 say Parents), I met this beautiful girl who had the sweetest smile and the kindest personality. But I never did know her too well, I just liked looking at her from afar." He thought about the girl, whose name he figured to be Kaylah, but she never did return some years ago. Horyo wasn't sure why, but he wasn't too concerned as his waterbending was more important.

Horyo took the place of a fellow water tribesman and began to move the waves underneath, the ship kept pace, steady and smooth. It glided over large waves and cut through small ones. Horyo's stomach growled again as the night sky began to drift down on them. Little specs of water began to fall from the sky though. The dense clouds were still there, only more thick.

Horyo was not quite adapted to the phenomenon as rain, because the weather in the North remained a constant snow. The rain pelted down heavier and heavier, more drops, and long streams fell before striking the deck. They were in a rainstorm and it wasn't pleasant, Horyo became soaked and his hair started flooding with water. The cold streaks of water never relented as it kept raining.

Post by godhunter on Jul 26, 2008 8:23:00 GMT -5

Hearing Horyo say that he was more interested in waterbending and never got into anything serious was a bit of a shock to Kizu. He had assumed that Horyo would have more than a few stories of past loves, so to hear him say that his most significant love was someone that he mearly gazed upon was more than a bit surprising. Kizu shrugged as the two headed to the back of the boat to take over propelling the ship. This simply proved to him that one could never judge by appearance or hear-say.

After a few short words with the man he was replacing Kizu stepped into position and emptied his mind. A moment later he set into the bending form that would keep the ship going long into the night. The movements and goal were the only things he allowed his mind to feel. Even as the sky darkened and the blubber lamps were lit he didn't come out of his self induced trance. It wasn't until some hours later that a man tapping him on the shoulder caused him to realize that he was soaked in water. His first instinct told him that they had crashed through some heavy waves, but a moment later he realized what it was. Rain, real rain. He had heard stories of it and the storms that accompanied it, but he had never even considered that they would come close to the ferocity of snowstorms from his Northern home.

Shaking off a shiver Kizu quickly walked off the deck and toward his bunk. A few swishes of his wrist and he was dry once again. The waterbender hadn't realized just how much the bending and the storm had taken out of him until he hit his cot. Before he could even remove his boots he had collapsed into dreamland.